prescription abbreviations and symbols Flashcards
a with line over it
before
aa with line over
of each
a.c.
before meals
ad lib.
as much as needed
a.m. or AM
morning
ante
before
aq.
aqueous/ water
b.i.d
two times a day
caps
capsule
c line over
with
cc with line on top
with meals
comp
compound
d
day
DC or D/C
discontinue
dos.
doses
DS
double strength
DSD
double starting dose
elix.
elixir
emul
emulsion
et
and
ext.
extract
garg.
gargle
gm or g
gram
gr
grain
gt.
drop
gtt.
drops
h.
hour
h.s.
before bedtime (hour of sleep)
ID
intradermal
IM
intramuscular
inj.
injection
IV or I.V.
intravenous
liq
liquid
M or m.
Mix
mcg
microgram
mg or mgm
milligram (used instead of “cc” for cubic centimeters)
ml
milliliter
N.E. or ne
negative
noct.
night
NPO or n.p.o.
nothing by mouth
O2
oxygen
o.d.
once a day
o.h.
every hour
oint
ointment
o.m.
every morning
o.n.
every night
OTC
over-the-counter
oz
ounce
p with line over it
after
p.c.
after meals
p.o.
by mouth (per os
p.r.
per rectum
p.r.n. or PRN
whenever neccessary
q.
every
q.a.m
every morning
q.h.
every hour
q.h.s.
every night
q.i.d
four times a day (not at night)
q.n.
every night
q.p.m
every night
q.2.h
every two hours
q.3.h
every three hours
q.4.h
every four hours
rep, REP
let it be repeated
Rx
take (recipe), perscription
s with a line over
without
SC or subq
subcutanious
sat.
saturated
Sig.
write on label; give directions on prescription
SL
solution
SR
sustained release
ss
one-half
stat or STAT
immediately
syr.
syrup
tab.
tablet
t.i.d.
three times a day
top
topically
Tr. or tinct.
tincture
tsp
teaspoon
vag.
vagina
X or x
times (X10d/times ten days)
i, ii, iii, iv; viii, etc
1, 2, 3, 4; 8, etc.
5”, 10”, 15”
5, 10, 15 minutes
5’, 10’, 15’
hours
3 or dr.
dram*drachm)
3 or oz.
ounce
